Developer: Team Ninja
Platforms: PC, PS5 (Reviewed)
Genre: Action, RPG
Publisher: Koei Tecmo.
Just a caveat to the review, I haven’t played Nioh 2, so I’m pretty much new to the series, and for me, this is a standalone game, and I’m critiquing on that basis.
Nioh 3 is an action RPG played in the 3rd person and set in 1622. You play as Tokugawa Takechiyo (your character is fully customisable if you wish to do so), who is in line to be the next shogun, until your brother joins forces with the yokai (supernatural entities) and has other plans for you. The game shifts between multiple eras, and you battle your way through each. There is a lot of Japanese history and storytelling intertwined that sets the scene and your place in it. I’m no history buff, so you will have to do your own digging on it! But from a gaming perspective, the characters, the setting and this mix of humans and yokai give this game a fantastic setting.
As a third-person RPG, the core gameplay shifts between Samurai and Ninja. You can easily shift between characters by using R2 (on PS5); this will shift from Samurai to Ninja or vice versa. These two distinct playstyles really let you approach the game in two unique ways: stealth or power. Each style has 7 different weapon types. Samurai can wield a sword, Dual Swords, Spear, Axe, Odachi, Switchglaive, and Cestus . Ninja can wield Ninja Sword, Dual Ninja Swords, Kusarigama, Tonfa, Hatchets, Splitstaff, and Talons. There is a huge array of combinations within each character type and ranged weapons, such as bows and rifles, too. As you can see, even before levelling up, the use of magic, skill trees and a huge array of other game mechanics, the gameplay is varied. The game does a fantastic job of making each character with the weapon of your choice feel smooth, solid and amazing in combat, which underpins all of the other great things the game has in store for players. Samurai wields larger weapons that deal huge damage with the ability to block and dodge, the Ninja is quicker with the focus on being hard to hit. Both styles are amazing, and the game is so fun as you can switch between the two styles with a click of one button. TeamNinja understood the core combat mechanics, and they are spot on.
With each weapon, you will have a skill tree and buffs you can apply throughout the game. There is a skill tree for each weapon type, and you customise them on the basis of what you unlock as you progress through the game. The weapons can also leverage elementals (Fire, Wind, Lightning and Wind), and you will see the elementals as you play through the game and can use them to your advantage. Ranged weapons allow you to fight from a distance, and that’s really it, another gaming element that works. Then, like any RPG, you have a character upgrade, and you can level up items such as stamina, strength and intellect, just to name a few, to build the character as you see fit. Then add magic (Onmyo Magic) and a guardian spirit to the mix, and you get the full-rounded RPG experience. As you beat bosses and enemies, you will get cores that will allow you cast spells and build an all-around beast of a character. The gameplay is in-depth, multi-faceted and huge. I have only scratched the surface here, but it gives you a taste of what to expect, all impeccably well done.
The game plays like an Elden Ring Souls-like game where there is a keen emphasis on exploring the map and unlocking areas, finding bosses, finding hidden bosses and random things throughout the world. If your character feels underlevelled or doesn’t have the skills needed, you can explore another part of the world and come back. The mix of playstyles reminds me of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but I enjoyed the combat in Nioh 3 much more. The game does a really good job of mixing these various games into one singular, spectacular game.
Enemies range from various humans to yokai, and you will encounter big boss fights throughout the world and not just in game missions, which I love. The bosses can be tough, and I spent 2-3 hours beating my first main boss, so for people who aren’t used to souls-like games, you may get annoyed / struggle, / rage quit, all acceptable and valid. Within the game, you will come across graves which allow you to summon an AI version of another player (their build and stats) who can help you in battle, which can be useful if you get stuck or struggle.
There are online modes too, where you can play story or mission mode. In story mode, the game will happen in the host’s version of the game and where they are. Mission mode lets you replay missions you have completed or unlocked.
The visuals, the story and voice acting were all superb, giving credence to the game and your character. The game is huge with lots to do, too!
Nioh 3 is a stunning game with a real depth to the gameplay, with so many facets to get players locked in, mix a huge open world where you can explore as you desire and take on missions as you wish, or you can forgo the side missions and just do the main one. It’s up to you, but I enjoyed the deep exploration, the huge skill trees, the huge amount of weapons, spells and just random things you uncover as you play. There are other elements that I didn’t cover, but I found it fun trying to understand the huge amount of game mechanics. In spite of all the game mechanics, the core combat and world exploration alone make this game outstanding. Team Ninja managed to cram so much into one game; its scope is huge.
Overall: 9/10
Enjoys more than the odd game, long time gamer, somewhat a technologist and everything else in between.
Also enjoys a good solid game of FIFA online. Currently PS4, XBOX 360 and STEAM.
